Jarno Trulli believes Team Lotus can "probably chase Force India and maybe Sauber" this season after taking a "huge step forward" with their T128.
Team Lotus made their Formula One debut last season as one of three newcomers to the Formula One paddock, winning the battle of 'best of the newbies' even if they didn't score a point.
This season, though, Trulli reckons his team could be in line to score thanks to the new chassis, Renault power and Red Bull gearboxes.
"We have one of the best rear ends you can have in the paddock, because the gearbox is amazing, as well as the engine," he told Autosport.
"Everything fits perfectly. The car looks good, and it looks quick as well.
"If I have to compare to last year, it's day and night. It's a huge step forward, and everybody has been working really hard.
"Mike (Gascoyne) has been putting things together, and Tony (Fernandes) has managed to give us a really good rear end that will solve our troubles in terms of reliability and performance, everything.
"The team has to think and concentrate about getting it right on the suspension side, on the stiffness side, and on the aero side. I think they've done great things over the winter time, catching up with all the new rules, and with all the new bits."
The Italian, though, did concede that the team could have a slow-ish start to the campaign as reliability remains an issue.
"So it might be difficult at the beginning, but maybe then we can get on top," he said.
"Looking at the lap times it's difficult to get a clear idea, but we can probably chase Force India and maybe Sauber.
"Obviously we are ahead of Virgin and HRT. This at the moment is the picture that we have."
